Harrogate, Tenn.-- Talon LaClair hit for the cycle and a program record 10 RBI in the first game and went 8-9 on the afternoon to lead the Lenoir-Rhyne Softball team to a sweep in a huge SAC doubleheader with Lincoln Memorial on Monday afternoon. LR won the first game 16-1 then used a six-run seventh inning to climb out of a three-run deficit to sweep Lincoln Memorial. In the pivotal seventh inning, the Bears got a two-run home run from Lauren Rakes and a grand slam from Julia Mardigian. With the sweep, the Bears move in sole possession of second place with two games remaining on Saturday against Carson-Newman. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game One Final: No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne 16, Lincoln Memorial 1 (5 Inn.)
Game Two Final:  No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne 11, Lincoln Memorial 8
Records:   No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne (33-9, 15-7 SAC), Lincoln Memorial (30-19, 14-8 SAC)
Game Location: Dorothy Neely Softball Complex I Harrogate, Tenn.

STATS AND INFO:

• LaClair's 10 RBI are the most in a single-game this season in all of Division II. 
• It also break the program record of eight RBIs set back in 1995 by Lori Bolick and again in 2005 by Leah Krohn
• The win in game one was the program's 1200th victory all-time.
• The win was also the first win in Harrogate since 2017. 
• These games were originally schedule for Friday April 7th but weather forced postponement to today. 
• The 15 run victory in game one was the largest margin of victory in the 38 all-time matchups between these programs. 
• The Bears will at least be the No. 2 seed and host the opening round of the SAC Tournament with a sweep of Carson-Newman on Saturday but the LR can also share the SAC regular season title with a sweep and if LMU sweeps Wingate on Saturday. 

• LaClair was the highlight of game one as she hit for the cycle with a grand slam in the first, a two-run double in the second, a two-run triple in the fourth then completed the cycle with a two-run single in the fifth. LaClair finished the day 4-4 with 10 RBIs.
• Morgan Beeler won her 19th game as the senior allowed just one hit and one run in the complete game victory. 
• Bears finished with 18 hits, the second-most on the season as LaClair was joined by Lora Beth Wood with four hits in this contest. 
• Katelyn Rackard, Mardigian, Cassidy Wall, and Lauren Jackson all had a pair of hits as well as the Bears scored five in the first and fifth innings and three runs in the second and fourth. 

• LR jumped out with a four-spot, all with two outs in the top of the 1st, highlighted by Wood's 9th home run of the season.
• LaClair's 6th hit and 3rd double of the day gave the Bears a 5-1 lead in the second inning. 
• However, LMU scored the next seven runs including a three-run sixth inning to take an 8-5 lead. 
• Down by three with three outs remaining, the Bears turned to the long ball as Lauren Rakes got the Bears going with a two-run homer to get the Bears within one run. After a double by Anna Blume, am infield hit from Kaylan Brown and a walk to Rackard, Mardigian delivered a grand slam over the left center wall to give the Bears the lead back. 
• Beeler got the start and went two innings allowing five runs before Faith Carrigan came in relief allowing one run in 3 1/3. Brooklin Heavner threw 2/3 innings allowing a pair of runs to pick up her 4th victory of the year as Beeler returned to close out the game for her 5th save of the season. 

• Wall's 11-game hitting streak came to the end in game two. 
• LaClair's 10 RBIs were a career high, doubling her pervious high of five earlier this season against Belmont Abbey.
• LaClair went from 12th to 4th in RBIs in the conference as the graduate student has 48 RBIs on the year. 
• 48 RBIs is a career -best for LaClair who had 44 in her sophomore year in 2019. 
• Wood's home run was her 18th of career. 
• That was the Bears' 4th victory this year when trailing heading into the seventh inning.

UP NEXT:  Bears will conclude the regular season with senior day on Saturday when Carson-Newman comes to town. First-pitch is schedule for 2:00 PM.